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Mod Chip Sales Ruled Illegal in UK

Wuh-oh! Looks like it's going to get tougher for Brits to get mod-chips for their PlayStations.

Numerous UK sources are telling us that the British High Court has ruled that the sale of "mod chip" devices for the PlayStation 2 is illegal under the UK's implementation of the recently enacted European Union Copyright Directive.

FYI -- a PS2 with a mod chip installed can play imported or pirated (CD-R, DVD-R) copies of PS2 video games.

The case was levied against David Ball, who was charged will selling upwards of 1,500 "Messiah 2" mod chips to customers around the UK and worldwide.

According to the European Union Copyright Directive, it is illegal to circumvent copy protection systems. Since mod chips allow people to play imported games and to make counterfeit copies of them, the devices are unlawful to sell according to the EUCD. In his ruling on the case, Judge Laddie stated that Mr. Ball had acted unlawfully in selling the mod chips. Judge Laddie further went on to say that the use, advertising, or possession of mod chips for commercial purposes should be considered illegal too.

Sony won a similar case last year in Belgium, but has lost cases brought forward in Spain and Italy.

We contacted a few known pirates for comment, but they were too busy burning DVD's and saying "Arr" to get back to us.